Coffin



J. DOLEMAN COFFIN I I I l l I I l I I I I I I I I l I I l I I l l I I I I l l I I l I I l I I J71: a orngz J. DOLEMAN Oct. 2, 1934.

iv ran 3, 3.934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fiiad III/WIN James 9040mm flttorlug- Y J from a non-metallic substance and secured 150- thus producing a deeper part.

Patented Oct. 2, 12 934 v- UNITED s'raras PATENT OFFICE COFFIN James Dofeman, Oldham; England, assignor of one-fourth to John Fletcher, Ashton-under- Lyne, one-fourth to 'James Beesley, and onefourth to Stanley Street, Mossley, England Application March 3, 1934, Serial No. 713,911

,, In Great Britain October 12, 1932 3 Claims. (Cl. 271'7) This invention relates to cofilns and has for its section showing, the lid portion completely enobject to provide a novel construction which is gaged with the cofiin'body. cheaper to produce than hitherto and is rot-proof Figure is a fragmentary plan view of the cofiin and leak-proof and can be closed very easily and body. 5 quickly. Figure 6 is a detached fragmentary end view 60 Previous to my invention it has been proposed in section of part of a coffin body and illustrates in a coflin stamped out of sheet metal, for the amodification. purpose of enabling it to be hermetically sealed Figure '7 is a detached fragmentary plan view without the aid of screws etc., to provide the coflin in sectionof a part of the last named coflin body.

body with a lap round its upper edge containing Referring to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, in P a rubber band and adapted to have a flange round the construction shown therein I mould a seamthe edge of the coifin lid sprung into it and press less coffin body 1 from the said powder or other against the rubber band. It has also been prolight mouldablevmaterial and furnish the ex,- posed in tin'boxes and like containers to provide terior thereof with any desired relief or intaglioa rubber gasket between the box and the lid to decorationand with handles (not shown) by the 70 assist in sealing. Furthermore it has been promoulding operation. Difierent colours of powder posed in boxes to provide securing and sealing may be employed for difierent parts of the cofiln means comprising a rubber ring alternately enbody 1. gaging two external grooves in the box and also A continuous groove is moulded round the exengaging an internal groove in the flange of the terior of the cofiin body 1 during the moulding 75 --"Iid when the lid is in position. I thereof. The base 2' of the groove has a part ,1 A cofiin in accordance with my invention comwhich is parallel with the coffin body sides and a prises a body and lid each moulded in one piece part which slants inwardly from the parallel part gather by an automatic catch means which acts A continuous ring 3 of resilient or soft rubber also as a sealing means. is provided and has an upper portion which fits The y d lid y be of moulded D Wde exactly inthat part of the groove where the parcontai ine m i d w p and r in or allel part of the base 2 'is-situated, The lower the like for example the powder sold under the portiqn of th ri g 3 hasganputepsurface which re i red r d -m rk B i r other l h slants outwardly andina downward direction. mouldable material. The inner face beinga-continuation of the sur- The automatic catch means may comprise a face of the said parallel-part. The groove and continuous band of rubber or the like, having its ring 3 in cross-section are therefore shapedlike a, we p r enlarged in Cross-Section and d in dovetail with a spread at one side only, the spread a ro v p v n he c ffin body, the groove of the groove being at the opposite side to the being deepened at its lower part in cross section spread of th ring 3 to accommodate the e d pa as the 00ml! The ring 3 is inserted in a stretched state in lid is placed on, and the lid having a flange proth continuous groove, vided with a channel for the enlarged part to A seamless lid 4 i uld d in ne piece from spring into and thereby secure and seal the lid. imilar t l and may 1 have ornaments, A as et o rubber other yielding material tions moulded thereon and comprise materials may b provided between D1 edge 0f the of different colours. The lid 4112s a deep flange coffin b dy a d the inner Surface of the p 5 in which a continuous triangular channel 61 is the coffin lid. provided interiorly. The channel 6- is adapted I accomp ish t Said Object by the Construction to register with the lower part of the ring 3 when illustrated in t e acc p y drawings, Where" the lid 4 is in position. A rubber gasket 7 may inbe provided in the lid 4 or in the upper rim of- Figure 1 is an end view, partly in section, of a t body 1 t li between t Y coflin lid. Owing to the absence of seams and the nature F u e 2 i a and View, Partly in Section, Of a of the material employed it is unnecessary to 105 coffin body. line the body 1 or lid 4 with lead or the like.

Figure 3 is a detached fragmentary end view, When the lid 4 is placed on the body the flange in section showing the lid partly engaged with 5 slides down the outside of the body 1. As the coffin body. the lid 4 is pressed home, the inner surface there- 55 Figure 4 is a detached fragmentary end view in of forces the lower part of the ring 3 into the 310 deeper part of the groove in the body 1, see Figure 3, and therefore the ring 3 does 'not interfere with the passage of the flange 5 thereover. When the lid 4 is pressed into the fully closed position the triangular channel 6 therein registers with the lower part of the ring 3 and the said part springs outwardly to again occupy its original position, where it now engages the triangular channel 6 and holds the lid 4 tightly in the closed position, see Figure 4. The ring 3 also forms an air and liquid tight seal between the body 1 and the lid 4. It will be observed that screws for securing the lid are rendered unnecessary.

Figures 6 and '7 illustrate a modification in the form of closure ring. "In these figures the continuous rubber ring 8 is mounted on spring strips 9 each extending from one corner to the next of the cofiin body 10. The strips 9 are secured to the body 10 at the upper part of a continuous external groove provided in the body and of similar shape to that described with reference to the construction shown in Figures 1 to 5. The ring acts in a similar manner to the ring 3, the only difference being that the ring 3 acts entirely by its own resiliency to yield and then enter the channel in the lid whereas-the ring 8 yields and then enters the said channel by virtue of the resiliency of the spring strips 9.

I claim- 1. A self-sealing automatic catch for coffins and the like, comprising an endless element of sealing material to be seated in a groove indthe outer surface of the coffin body below the upper edge, the element being laterally enlarged in its lower portion to normally project beyond the side edge of the coffin body, the groove in the body being inwardly enlarged throughout an appropriate height to permit the element to be moved inwardly to dispose the enlarged portion substantially flush with the surface of the body, the lid of the coflin being formed on its inner surface with a channel to receive the enlarged portion of the element when the groove and channel are substantially aligned, that portion of the lid below the channel serving to displace the element, in part, into the enlarged portion of the groove to permit the free edge of the lid topass the element in the application of the lid without substantial distortion of the element.

2. An automatic self-sealing catch for coffins and the like, including an element having a lower sealing surface of endless form to seat in a groove in the exterior wall of the coffin body below the upper edge thereof, the element having a lateral extension with a downwardly and outwardly inclined upper face designed toproject beyond the surface of the coffin body when the element is within the groove, said groove being inwardly enlarged to permit bodily movement of the enlarged portion of the element inwardly of the groove to permit the enlarged portion of the element to be substantially flush with the outer surface of the coffin body adjacent the element, the lid of the coffin being formed with a channel substantially commensurate with the size and formation of the element enlargement with the channel arranged to align with the enlargement when the lid is in place, that portion of the lid below the channel serving to displace the element in the application of the lid into the enlarged portion of the groove in the application of the lid, the enlarged portion of the element moving outwardly into the channel in the lid when the channel and groove are aligned, whereby the element is seated in the groove and channel to form an interlock and bridges the space between the inner surface of the lid and the outer surface of the body to form a seal.

3. An automatically acting self-sealing catch for coilins and the like, including a sealing and locking element in endless form to seat in an endless groove in the outer surface of the coflin body below the-upper edge thereof, the lower portion of the element being laterally enlarged, and means carried by the element to insure the projection of the enlargement of the element beyond the adjacent surface of the coffin body when the element is free of inward pressure, the groove movement of the enlarged portion of the element inwardly to dispose the free edge of the enlargement substantially flush with the adjacent surface of the body of the coffin, the lid of the coffin being formed with a channel on the inner surface to be aligned with the groove when the lid is applied, said channel being of a size and shape to receive the enlarged portion of the element under the pressure of the means carried by the element when the lid is in applied position, that por tion of the lid below the channel serving to defiect the element against the tension of the means carried thereby into the enlarged portion of the groove during application of the lid.

JAMES DOLEMAN.

"being inwardly enlarged to provide a space for the 

